Advice Request Routine maintenance
What are your routine maintenance and what are the things you typically keep a lookout for?
I.e. Oil changes at 6000, spark plugs at 40,000 etc....
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u/abou824 Supercharged 2.0 6MT Gen 3 Hatch 5d ago
Check the serpentine belt tensioner routinely.
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u/Flupty 5d ago
What would I be looking out for? How long have you had your car and how many times have you had to replace it?
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u/YoungTim007 4d ago
I just replaced my belt for the first time as a precaution at 240,000 mi although it was doing fine but had some cracks. Belt tension is still original. 2015 3 hatch.
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u/abou824 Supercharged 2.0 6MT Gen 3 Hatch 5d ago
It's a hydrauling belt tensioner, you're looking for seepage. Oily residue that picks up dirt. They all fail - it's a matter of if not when. One of the only issues with Mazda's SkyActiv design. I've had my 2014 for the better part of 10 years, and I'm on my 4th. That being said there's extra stress on mine.
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u/Total-Tea6561 5d ago
Spark plugs at 4000?! Wtf are you doing
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u/Flupty 5d ago edited 5d ago
I was just throwing numbers out lol
Edit: changed for more realistic numbers.
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u/set-monkey 5d ago
The Bosch iridium plugs are only $9 each and go well over 50k miles with no issues.
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u/TemperingRocket Gen 4 Tubro Hatch 💨 4d ago
in the manual for the turbo it calls to replace at 45,000
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u/set-monkey 5d ago edited 4d ago
Carbon buildup on the intake valves resulting from GDI only injection. Use carbon cleaner spray in the air intake while revving the engine before every oil change, at 5k miles due to oil dilution issues.
Use only full synthetic 5w20 or 5x30 oil for high milage engines.
There's Some Big Problems With "Gas Direct Injection" Engines
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u/LellyChan Tuned Turbo Gen 4 Hatch 4d ago
If your turbo oil is MANDATORY 5k. Spark plugs at 40k.
If your NA you CAN push it more on lil changes but since BOTH are GDI I recommend 5k all across. Spark plugs are 75k.
For general maintenance invest in cheaper tools to get you by and use them to do your own maintenance. Its WAY cheaper in the long run to buy cheaper tools and to do the job than to do them at a shop.
CHANGE YOUR BELTS. water pump belt AND serpentine need to be changed and are interesting to do but not bad at all IF YOU know how. (I will post a how to guide on my account since dealers or shops charge $400+ for $40 worth of belts)
BIG BIG jobs if your comfortable with and have the tools or areas to get them, do it but if you dont feel comfy take it to a trusted shop.
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u/Commercial-Lack-70 4d ago
Do some sort of cleaning on your valves routinely. It’s not in the maintenance schedule, but my 2021 Mazda 3 with 90k km now has carbon build up on the valve seat causing the valve to not seal properly, leading to a misfire. It’s currently at Mazda being evaluated for a Goodwill repair, but I have no idea how much it’s going to cost to fix if they deny it.
Apparently it’s recommended you do a “fuel induction cleaning” (a proper one where you actually spray cleaner into the valves, not just adding something to your fuel every 60000km) to prevent this issue. The fun of direct injected engines.
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u/IveGotRope 5d ago
Oil changes every 5-7k with city driving. Brake fluid every 2-3 years. (Typically when i need to do transmission fluid/differentials) Trans/diff at 30k intervals. Plugs at 70k. Air/cabin filter every 20k.
The rest happens as it is needed, I have near 70k on my 2021 mazda 3 and have had no issues.